October 25, 1804

25th of October Thursday

a Gentle Breeze from the S. E by E passed an (1) old Village on a high
Plain where the Mandans onced lived & after they left the Village &
moved higher the Ricaras took possession & live until 1799 when they
abandoned it & flew from the just revenge of the Mandans, a verry
extensive Bottom above the Village above the Center of which (2) the
Mandans lived in the 2 villages on the L. 5., but little timber-
Several parties of Indians on each Side of the River going up. in view
in every directions— we are informed that the Sioux has latterly taken
horses from the Big Bellies or Minitaries and on their way homerwards
they fell in with the Assinniboins who killed them and took the horses
& a frenchman Menard who resided with the Mandan for 20 years past was
Killed a fiew days ago on his way from the Britishment astablishments
on the Assineboin River, 150 miles N. of this place to the mandans by
the assinniboin Indians— we were frequently Called to by parties of
Indians & requested to land & talk, passed a verry bad place & Camped
on a Point S S. opposit a high hill Several Indians visit us this
evening the Sun of the late great Chief of the Mandans who had 2 of his
fingers off and appeared to be pearced in maney places on inquiring the
reason, was informed that it was a testimony to their grief for
Deceased freinds, they frequently Cut off Sevral fingers & pierced
themselves in Different parts, a Mark of Savage effection, wind hard
from the S. W. verry Cold R Fields with a Rhumitisum in his Neck one
man R. in his hips my Self much better, Those Indians appear to have
Similar Customs with the Ricaras, their Dress the Same more mild in
their language & justures &c. &c.

25th of October Thursday 1804

a Cold morning Set out early under a gentle Breeze from the S. E. by E
proceeded on, passed (1) the 3rd old Village of the Mandans which has
been Desd. for many years, This village was Situated on an eminance of
about 40 foot above the water on the L. S. back for Several miles is a
butifull plain (2) at a Short distance above this old village on a
Continuation of the Same eminance was Situated the which have been
avacuated only Six years, above this village a large and extensive
bottom for Several miles in which the Squars raised ther Corn, but
little timber near the villages, on the S. S. below is a point of
excellent timber, and in the point Several miles above is fine timber,
Several parties of Mandins rode to the river on the S. S. to view us
indeed they are continuelly in Sight Satisying their Curiossities as to
our apperance &c. we are told that the Seaux has latterly fallen in
with & Stole the horses of the Big belley, on their way home they fell
in with the Ossiniboin who killed them and took the horses— a frenchman
has latterly been killed by the Indians on the Track to the tradeing
establishment on the Ossinebine R. in the North of this place (or
British fort) This frenchman has lived many years with the Mandins— we
were frequently called on to land & talk to parties of the Mandins on
the Shore, wind Shifted to the S. W at about 11 oClock and blew hard
untill 3 OCk. clouded up river full of Sand bars & we are at a great
loss to find the Channel of the river, frequently run on the Sand bars
which Detain us much passed a verry bad riffle of rocks in the evining
by takeing the L. S. of a Sand bar and Camped on a Sand point on the S.
S. opposit a high hill on the L. S. Several Indians Come to See us this
evening, amongst others the Sun of the late great Cheif of the Mandins,
this man has his two little fingers off-; on inqureing the Cause, was
told it was Customary for this nation to Show their greaf by Some
testimony of pain, and that it was not uncommon for them to take off 2
Smaller fingers of the hand and Some times more with ther marks of
Savage effection

The wind blew verry hard this evening from the S. W. verry Cold

R. Fields with the rhumitim in his neck, P. Crusat with the Same
Complaint in his Legs— the party other wise is well, as to my Self I
feel but Slight Simptoms of that disorder at this time,